From Aadhar card mandate to restriction on clothes and music, Hindu groups Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHD) have laid down a set of guidelines for people attending garba events, organized during the Navratri festival.
VHP said that that entry to garba events during Navratri will be restricted to Hindus, with attendees required to show Aadhaar cards, apply a ‘tilak’ on the forehead, and perform religious rituals.
Hoardings, signages and posters on how garba festivities have to be conducted have cropped up in Rajasthan cities, including Kota and Bhilwara, according to a report by NDTV.
In Kota, the Bajrang Dal has even formed teams to conduct surprise checks at garba events to ensure that guidelines are being followed.
"These days, we are seeing that Navrati has become a disco. People are going for garba events, smoking cigarettes and playing inappropriate music. It doesn't even appear to be a religious event dedicated to the mother goddess," said Naresh Prajapat, the Kota city coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, NDTV reported.
"It has become a disco. We are only saying that conduct the programm the way it should be done. There should be aartis, Aadhar cards will be checked non-Hindus will not be allowed," he added.
"Women should wear proper clothes as it is a religious function. This is a function of Hindu society and should be conducted accordingly. We will go to all pandals in the city and check. If we find anyone suspicious, we can ask for their Aadhar cards. Our advice to women is -- wear traditional clothes. You look nice in those and wear those in cultural programmes," said Monu Sonu, the group's Kota chief, NDTV reported.
VHP justified the measures as a way to prevent “love jihad", a term used by some right-wing groups to allege attempts to convert Hindu women. Such concerns, the VHP alleges, arise annually ahead of the festival.
“Garba is not merely a dance but a form of worship to please the goddess. They (apparent reference to Muslims) do not believe in idol worship. Only those having faith in the rituals must be allowed to participate,” VHP national spokesperson Shriraj Nair told PTI.
“VHP and Bajrang Dal workers will monitor the events. Garba is a form of worship, not entertainment. Those who do not have faith in the goddess should not be part of it,” Nair added.
VHP Vidarbha general secretary Prashant Titre said in Nagpur on Saturday that ‘gau mutra’ (cow urine) would also be sprinkled on participants, and VHP, along with Bajrang Dal volunteers, would oversee garba pandals to ensure compliance with the guidelines, NDTV reported.
(With inputs from PTI)
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